Paddington Post Office facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paddington Post Office |
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The post office, viewed from Oxford Street, in 2011.
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Post office |
| Architectural style |
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| Location | 246 Oxford Street, Paddington, New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°53′05″S 151°13′35″E / 33.8847672958°S 151.2263640470°E |
| Completed | 1885 |
| Opened | 26 December 1885 |
| Cost | A£2,235; plus A£40 for the exterior clock |
| Owner | Australia Post |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Stuccoed masonry, timber joinery |
| Floor count | 2 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect |
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| Architecture firm | New South Wales Government Architect |
| Main contractor | William Farley |
| Type | Historic |
| Criteria | a., d., e., g. |
| Designated | 8 November 2011 |
| Reference no. | 105300 |
| Official name | Paddington Post Office |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Criteria | a., c., d., e., f., g. |
| Designated | 22 December 2000 |
| Reference no. | 01418 |
| Type | Post Office |
| Category | Postal and Telecommunications |
| Builders | Original building by William Farley |
The Paddington Post Office is a special old building in Paddington, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It's located on Oxford Street and has been a post office since it opened. It's owned by Australia Post, which is a government agency. This building was also once a telephone exchange, helping people make calls.
The post office was designed by famous architects James Barnet and later Walter Liberty Vernon. It was built by William Farley. Because it's so old and important, it's listed on the Commonwealth Heritage List and the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means it's protected and its history is valued.
Contents
History of Paddington Post Office
How Paddington Grew
Paddington got its name from a place in London. It started as open fields next to Victoria Barracks, a military base. Unlike some other early Sydney suburbs, people living here had to travel for work. This was because there weren't many local jobs.
The area began to grow after a road was built to Watson's Bay. This road had to go through Paddington because a landowner wouldn't let people cross his property. In 1838, things really changed when a new military barracks was built in Paddington.
When the barracks opened in 1848, soldiers and their families moved in. This brought more people to Paddington. Shopkeepers followed, and between 1860 and 1890, about 3,800 houses were built. These unique terraced houses still give Paddington its special look today.
One of the oldest buildings, Juniper Hall, was built in 1822. It was a grand mansion with amazing views. Over time, more buildings surrounded it. Today, Paddington is a popular place to live and visit. It's known for its cafes, shops, and the famous Paddington Markets, which started in the 1970s.
Mail Services in Australia
Australia's first official mail service began in 1809. Before that, ship captains just handed out mail, which wasn't very reliable. In 1825, a proper Postmaster General's Department was set up to manage mail.
By 1828, post offices started opening outside Sydney in towns like Bathurst and Parramatta. As more people settled across the colony, more post offices appeared. By 1839, there were forty! The railway network also helped mail services grow from the 1860s.
In 1863, it was decided that postmasters should live in the same building as the post office. This was to make sure mail was safe and handled properly.
Paddington's Postal Journey
The first post office in Paddington opened on July 1, 1851. The first postmaster, Richard Westaway, started in 1857. By 1859, a letter carrier was hired to deliver mail on horseback from the Sydney GPO.
People in Paddington wanted their own dedicated post office. The current spot on Oxford and Ormond Streets was bought in 1882. Plans for the new building were drawn up in 1884 by James Barnet, the Colonial Architect. The building was designed in the Victorian Italianate style.
The Paddington Post Office officially opened on December 26, 1885. It has been a working post office ever since. It's a two-storey building made of brick and stucco. It also has a three-storey tower at one end. The building was used for sending mail and telegrams, and the postmaster lived there too.
James Barnet's office built and looked after 169 post and telegraph offices across NSW between 1865 and 1890. He liked to design buildings in different styles.
New post offices continued to be built even during tough economic times. Walter Liberty Vernon took over as Government Architect from 1890 to 1911. He made some repairs to the Paddington Post Office around 1890-91. A telephone exchange was added between 1911 and 1913. Vernon likely contributed to these smaller changes and additions.
After Australia became a federation in 1901, the Commonwealth Government took over postal and telephone services. In 1975, Australia Post was created. By 1989, Australia Post became a self-funded company. This led to changes, with more smaller, shop-front style post offices opening.
For many years, post offices did much more than just send mail. They also handled savings bank services, electoral registrations, and telephone services. The local post office was often a central point for the community. They were usually built in important spots in town, close to other public buildings.
What the Building Looks Like
The Paddington Post Office is mostly a two-storey building. It's built from brick and covered in a smooth plaster called stucco. It's designed in the Victorian Italianate style. There's a three-storey tower at the western end. The roof is hidden behind a stepped wall called a parapet. You won't see any chimneys on the roof.
Over the years, some parts of the building have been added or changed. For example, there's a two-storey section on Ormond Street that might have been the postmaster's home. A single-storey extension was added around 1979 for the loading dock and mail room. The inside of the building has changed a lot, especially the mail sorting room.
On the ground floor, there's a covered walkway with columns. This area has a brown tiled floor. There's also a side porch with post boxes. This porch is protected by a lockable iron fence.
The outside of the building is painted apricot with cream details. A large British Coat of Arms is on the front of the building above the main entrance. The ground floor has classic details and a heavy base.
The windows on the building are mostly the same and are placed in a balanced way. The ground floor has arched windows, while the first floor has square windows. The main retail area is on the ground floor, along with the mail room and staff offices.
Inside, the ceilings are made of plasterboard. Some areas have fancy plaster moldings and ceiling decorations. The floors are covered with carpet or vinyl. Many of the original internal doors have been removed. The walls are painted brick or modern panels. Old fireplaces have been filled in.
The main staircase on the ground floor has a polished timber handrail and turned balusters (the small posts that support the rail). The first floor is where mail sorting happens. It also has staff lunchrooms and bathrooms. The ceilings here are often made of mini-orb (a type of corrugated iron) and painted cream.
There's a second staircase in the tower section that goes up to the second floor. This area is currently used for storage. It has cream-painted ceilings. Some windows on this floor have been covered up.
You can still see the words "Post and Telegraph Office" on the Oxford Street side of the building. The year "1885" is also visible on the curved corner. A large Australia Post sign is also on the building. The Paddington Post Office looks great on Oxford Street, fitting in with other important buildings like the Town Hall and Juniper Hall.
The only other building on the site is a small bike shed from around 1979. There are no trees actually on the post office property. However, there's a small park across the street and gardens at Juniper Hall.
Building Condition
As of 2000, the Paddington Post Office was in good shape. The outside of the building looks very good and still has its original features. While the inside has been changed a lot, the building still shows its original design. It keeps its important features like the classic front porch with columns and its overall style.
Changes Over Time
The original building was finished in 1885. It might have only been the southern part at first, with the Ormond Street section added soon after. Repairs were done in 1890-91.
Around 1911-13, a telephone exchange was added on the first floor. Later changes included removing a balcony on the Ormond Street side. The post boxes were also moved from the middle window to the eastern end of the porch.
In 1979, more additions were made. These included a mail room on the ground floor and a new staff area on the first floor. A bike shed was also built at the back. The part of the building that used to be the postmaster's home was converted for post office use. Some old stairs and walkways were removed. The post boxes were put into a recessed porch. The staircase in the southwestern corner was also changed. Around the 1990s, the retail area inside was updated with a standard Australia Post look.
Interesting Details
Some cool features of the building include the arch over the main staircase. The original timber and etched glass entry doors to the retail area are also in great condition. There's an old clock above the central window on the front porch. An old mail chute, which isn't used anymore, is still in the ceiling of the ground-floor mail room.
Why It's a Heritage Building
The Paddington Post Office is considered very important for its history, beautiful design, and how much it means to the community.
On December 22, 2000, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means it's important because:
- It's linked to the early mail services in Paddington, which started in 1851.
- It shows how communication services grew in the late 1800s as Paddington's population got bigger.
- It's a great example of the building boom during the Victorian era in Paddington.
- It was designed by the NSW Colonial Architect’s Office under James Barnet, who was famous for the Victorian Italianate style.
- It's a beautiful building with a strong visual appeal. It stands out on its corner spot and helps define Paddington as a Victorian-era suburb.
- It's important to the people of Paddington and helps them feel connected to their local history.
On November 8, 2011, the building was also added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List. This list recognizes its importance because:
- The outside of the building is still very much like it was originally, even with some changes over the years.
- It still shows how it was used and laid out, especially the part that was once the postmaster's home.
- It has unique architectural details, like the complex design of the Oxford Street front and the special entrance with columns.
- It's considered one of James Barnet's more unique designs, combining different styles.
- It helps give Paddington its Victorian character.
